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Just over a year ago, I adopted a Dogo Argentino. It became quickly apparent that he was aggressive toward other dogs. I took him to a police dog trainer who put a slip collar on him. This helped with the pulling, but our daily walks did not get any better.

We were advised to avoid all socialization with other dogs because of our dog’s dominance. Going against the trainer’s recommendations, I muzzled him and took him to the dog park. He has progressed well unless the other dog displays dominance (mounting or approaching with rigid body language). I specifically chose this breed because they are not supposed to be dog aggressive. What is spurring this aggressive behaviour and how do we fix it?

Dominance is a popular buzzword, bantered around in dog training circles. It is also a controversial diagnosis. At least thirteen definitions of dominance exist. Some have technical meanings, while others are little more than inaccurate misinterpretations.

So badly misused is the word dominance that the scientist who coined the term “alpha wolf” refuses to use the term any longer. Suffice it to say, use of the word dominance is often inaccurate. More importantly, dominance can get in the way of a solid rehabilitation plan.

In order to address aggression you first need to rule out health issues. Fifty per cent of dogs with behaviour problems have undiagnosed underlying medical conditions. Unfortunately, some conditions many not be readily apparent. Do rule out a medical condition as best as you can with the help of your pet’s veterinarian. Continue to keep any eye out for signs of illness.

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Next, identify triggers. Reacting to “dominance” is not precise enough. For example, some dogs react when another animal freezes and gives a hard stare. Others struggle with a head-on approach. Still others might find that frantic fast movements set their dog off. Many pets only seem to have problems if they feel cornered or trapped, such as when on a leash.

Think of it like fear of snakes. One person might be perfectly fine as long as the snake is locked in a cage. Another person might only fear large snakes, even those in cages. Still someone else might become frightened if the snake unexpectedly startles him or her. If you want to overcome the fear, it helps to know precisely which elements are causing the problem.

Once owners have a firm grasp on which triggers are problematic, they can arrange those triggers in order from easiest to most difficult.

Dogs that react to a direct, lunging approach and hard stare should first practice relaxing while walking toward other dogs from behind. Then they can progress toward passing dogs, arcing around from the side to avoid hard direct stares. Eventually, owners can work toward a more direct approach.

Start by practicing near temperamentally soft dogs. Keep practicing until the pet can walk near and toward dogs that give off intimidating body language. With each increase in difficulty, increase the distance between the two dogs. This lets the aggressive dog adjust to additional challenge.

Other dogs may require an entirely different sequence of events. This is why knowing triggers is more helpful than knowing the dog’s rank. Arranging the triggers in the correct order customizes the program.

As for why this dog might be aggressive, there are many reasons. Not all individual dogs will meet breed standards. All breeds have aggressive individuals, even labs and poodles. Poor breeders under-socialize some dogs. Mistreatment is a possibility when the history is unknown.

Thankfully, you do not need to know. Identify triggers, work systematically and get help from an experienced professional.

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